Apple Releases iOS 17.6.1 With Advanced Data Protection Bug Fix

Apple today released iOS 17.6.1 and iPadOS 17.6.1, minor updates to the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 operating system updates that came out last year. Apple is making iOS 17.6.1 and iPadOS 17.6.1 available a week after the launch of iOS 17.6 and iPadOS 17.6.

iOS 17
iOS 17.6.1 and iPadOS 17.6.1 can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released an iOS 16.7.10 update for devices that are unable to be upgraded to iOS 17.

According to Apple's release notes, the iOS 17.6.1 update addresses an issue that could prevent the enabling or disabling of Advanced Data Protection.

This update includes important bug fixes and addresses an issue that prevents enabling or disabling Advanced Data Protection.

The Advanced Data Protection bug impacted a small number of users. Those who tried to turn Advanced Data Protection on and weren't able to get it enabled saw an error message and it was clear it wasn't active. Affected users who tried to turn it off saw it disabled in the interface, though it was actually still active for iCloud data.

Both of those bugs have been fixed in the update. iPhone users who had the bug that prevented Advanced Data Protection from properly turning off will see a notification that asks them to confirm the decision to turn the feature off after installing iOS 17.6.1. Apple says that the few users who experienced this bug had an expected level of security or more, in the situation where ADP did not turn off as expected.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

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Top Rated Comments

Account25476 Avatar
9 months ago
One week after iOS 17.6 and four betas later… If the bugs were so important, it’s surprising they weren’t noticed during the last 2 months and half. If it was just a security fix, well, they invented Rapid Security Responses for that. Maybe they forgot about it.

Either way, I don’t get it.⬤
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Reverend Benny Avatar
9 months ago
I just wish Apple would give a bit more details than the regular (like many other companies do) "important bugfixes".
Glad they haven't jumped on the hype to add pointless info like "contains sunshine and love".

Will be interesting to see if there are any CVE's listed..
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ifxf Avatar
9 months ago
I guess Apple has abandoned Rapid Security Response.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xpxp2002 Avatar
9 months ago

One week after iOS 17.6 and four betas later… If the bugs were so important, it’s surprising they weren’t noticed during the last 2 months and half. If it was just a security fix, well, they invented Rapid Security Responses for that. Maybe they forgot about it.

Either way, I don’t get it.⬤
I gotta be honest. I don't think releases like 17.6 get much beta feedback or testing compared to builds that come out before the next major OS betas.

There is very little in iOS 18 that appeals to me, but so little to change between 17.5.1 and 17.6, that I almost considered briefly hopping on the beta bandwagon to get the bug fix for iCloud Tabs in Safari.

Other than that, I can understand why nobody was running the betas. They were either already on iOS 18 or holding off entirely.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dapsol Avatar
9 months ago

Their focus is on the next big iOS, so the risk of a lower quality release in the existing software seems higher.
The risk is much lower, because these bugfix releases only modify a tiny little bit of code, compared to the “major” versions with new features…
So the impact is minimal.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
9 months ago
I always feel more safe after the .1 updates. :p
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)